🏛️ 典故與文化背景
喬治「先回工寮」
喬治要坎迪等兩三分鐘再去報信，自己先回工寮——接著卡爾森發現魯格不見了。史坦貝克沒有明說，但讀者在最後一章會明白：拿走魯格的是喬治。第一章的「回到河邊躲起來等我」、第三章坎迪的「我應該自己斃了那隻狗」，在這裡匯合。
私刑隊
柯利要「打爛他的肚子」——一槍打在腹部是最痛苦、最慢的死法。這是復仇，不是正義。
關進籠子
斯林姆說就算抓回來不殺，「綁起來關進籠子」也不好——1930 年代的精神病院與監獄對智能障礙者極其殘酷。這段話讓喬治的選擇變得更沉重。
喬治回到原點
「做一個月、拿五十塊、妓院、撞球間」——這就是第一章喬治說「要是只有我一個人」的生活。如今它不再是自由，而是懲罰。
坎迪罵她
坎迪把一切怪到死去的女人頭上——跟全書男人們一樣，把她當成禍水。史坦貝克讓讀者看清這種遷怒的不公。
「可憐的傢伙」（Poor bastard）
坎迪罵完，最後卻對著她輕聲說「可憐的傢伙」——第一章喬治也用同一句話說雷尼。在全書的最後，坎迪終於把她當成跟他們一樣的可憐人。
📖 導讀
喬治看見屍體，跪下摸她的心跳，站起來時「臉又硬又緊，像木頭一樣」。坎迪問「是誰做的」，喬治冷冷反問：「你還想不到嗎？」然後是一句絕望的自白：「我早該知道。我想也許在我腦子深處，我其實知道。」他想讓大家把雷尼抓起來關著，「說不定他們會關住他、好好對他」；坎迪立刻戳破：「你不了解柯利，柯利會想吊死他。」
坎迪接著說出他最大的恐懼：「你跟我還是可以去買那塊地，對吧，喬治？」喬治還沒回答，坎迪就低下頭——他知道了。喬治輕聲說：「我想我從一開始就知道我們永遠做不到。他那麼愛聽，聽到我都開始覺得也許我們做得到。」然後他平靜地描述自己的未來：做一個月、拿五十塊、在妓院待一整晚、在撞球間坐到大家都回家——正是第一章他嘴上羨慕、其實最空虛的那種人生。「雷尼從來不是出於惡意。他一直做壞事，可是沒有一件是惡意的。」
喬治要坎迪假裝剛發現屍體，自己先回工寮——讀者後來才會明白他回去做了什麼。坎迪一個人對著屍體罵：「你這該死的騷貨……是你搞砸的。」罵著罵著，他開始像念經一樣重複那段夢：「要是有馬戲團或棒球賽……冬天……小胖爐子……雨落下來……我們就坐在那裡。」男人們衝進來，斯林姆摸了她的脖子，柯利立刻要拿獵槍「打爛那大王八蛋的肚子」。卡爾森跑回來：「那王八蛋偷了我的魯格。」斯林姆對喬治說了最殘忍的實話：就算抓回來不殺，「把他綁起來關進籠子，那也不好，喬治。」喬治拖著沉重的腳步跟著隊伍走了。坎迪躺在乾草上，用手臂遮住眼睛。
重點
- 「我早該知道」：喬治的愧疚——夢想是他編給雷尼聽的，也是編給自己聽的。
- 坎迪「知道了」：不用回答，夢想已經死了。
- 喬治的未來：五十塊、妓院、撞球間——他回到了「世上最寂寞的人」。
- 「從來不是出於惡意」：喬治對雷尼最後的辯護。
- 坎迪的經文：他把夢想當禱詞唸完最後一遍——對著一具屍體。
- 魯格不見了：全書的契訶夫之槍。喬治先回了工寮——讀者在最後一章會明白。
- 「關進籠子也不好」：斯林姆說出唯一的選項之外的選項都很殘酷。
📕 中英對照（逐句）
George said, “What was it you wanted to see me about?”
喬治說：「你找我要幹嘛？」
Candy pointed at Curley’s wife.
坎迪指著柯利的老婆。
George stared.
喬治盯著看。
“What’s the matter with her?” he asked.
「她怎麼了？」他問。
He stepped closer, and then he echoed Candy’s words.
他走近，然後重複了坎迪剛才的話。
“Oh, Jesus Christ!”
「喔，老天爺！」
He was down on his knees beside her.
他跪到她身邊。
He put his hand over her heart.
他把手放在她心口上。
And finally, when he stood up, slowly and stiffly, his face was as hard and tight as wood, and his eyes were hard.
最後他慢慢地、僵硬地站起來，他的臉又硬又緊，像木頭一樣，眼神也很硬。
Candy said, “What done it?”
坎迪說：「是什麼弄的？」
George looked coldly at him.
喬治冷冷地看著他。
“Ain’t you got any idear?” he asked.
「你一點都想不到嗎？」他問。
And Candy was silent.
坎迪沉默了。
“I should of knew,” George said hopelessly.
「我早該知道。」喬治絕望地說。
“I guess maybe way back in my head I did.”
「我想也許在我腦子深處，我其實知道。」
Candy asked, “What we gonna do now, George?
坎迪問：「我們現在要怎麼辦，喬治？
What we gonna do now?”
我們現在要怎麼辦？」
George was a long time in answering.
喬治過了很久才回答。
“Guess . . . we gotta tell the . . . guys.
「我想……我們得告訴……大家。
I guess we gotta get ’im an’ lock ’im up.
我想我們得把他抓起來，關起來。
We can’t let ’im get away.
不能讓他跑掉。
Why, the poor bastard’d starve.”
不然這可憐的傢伙會餓死。」
And he tried to reassure himself.
他試著安慰自己。
“Maybe they’ll lock ’im up an’ be nice to ’im.”
「說不定他們會把他關起來，好好對他。」
But Candy said excitedly, “We oughtta let ’im get away.
可是坎迪激動地說：「我們應該讓他逃走。
You don’t know that Curley.
你不了解那個柯利。
Curley gon’ta wanta get ’im lynched.
柯利會想把他吊死。
Curley’ll get ’im killed.”
柯利會害死他。」
George watched Candy’s lips.
喬治看著坎迪的嘴唇。
“Yeah,” he said at last, “that’s right, Curley will.
「對，」他終於說，「沒錯，柯利會。
An’ the other guys will.”
其他人也會。」
And he looked back at Curley’s wife.
他又回頭看著柯利的老婆。
Now Candy spoke his greatest fear.
這時坎迪說出了他最大的恐懼。
“You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George?
「你跟我還是可以去買那塊小地方，對吧，喬治？
You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George?
你跟我可以去那裡好好過日子，對吧，喬治？
Can’t we?”
對吧？」
Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay.
喬治還沒回答，坎迪就垂下頭，看著乾草。
He knew.
他知道了。
George said softly, “—I think I knowed from the very first.
喬治輕聲說：「——我想我從一開始就知道。
I think I knowed we’d never do her.
我想我知道我們永遠做不到。
He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.”
他以前那麼愛聽，聽到我都開始覺得也許我們做得到。」
“Then—it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily.
「那——全都完了？」坎迪悶悶地問。
George didn’t answer his question.
喬治沒有回答他的問題。
George said, “I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house.
喬治說：「我會做滿我的一個月，拿我的五十塊，然後在哪間爛妓院待一整晚。
Or I’ll set in some poolroom till ever’body goes home.
或是在哪間撞球間坐到大家都回家。
An’ then I’ll come back an’ work another month an’ I’ll have fifty bucks more.”
然後我會回來再做一個月，再拿五十塊。」
Candy said, “He’s such a nice fella.
坎迪說：「他是個那麼好的人。
I didn’ think he’d do nothing like this.”
我沒想到他會做出這種事。」
George still stared at Curley’s wife.
喬治還盯著柯利的老婆。
“Lennie never done it in meanness,” he said.
「雷尼從來不是出於惡意。」他說。
“All the time he done bad things, but he never done one of ’em mean.”
「他一直在做壞事，可是沒有一件是惡意的。」
He straightened up and looked back at Candy.
他挺直身子，回頭看坎迪。
“Now listen.
「聽著。
We gotta tell the guys.
我們得告訴大家。
They got to bring him in, I guess.
我想他們得把他抓回來。
They ain’t no way out.
沒有別的辦法。
Maybe they won’t hurt ’im.”
也許他們不會傷害他。」
He said sharply, “I ain’t gonna let ’em hurt Lennie.
他厲聲說：「我不會讓他們傷害雷尼。
Now you listen.
你聽好。
The guys might think I was in on it.
那些人可能會以為我也有份。
I’m gonna go in the bunk house.
我先回工寮。
Then in a minute you come out and tell the guys about her, and I’ll come along and make like I never seen her.
過一會兒你出去告訴大家她的事，我再過來，裝作從沒看過她。
Will you do that?
你做得到嗎？
So the guys won’t think I was in on it?”
這樣大家就不會以為我也有份？」
Candy said, “Sure, George. Sure I’ll do that.”
坎迪說：「好，喬治。我會照做。」
“O.K. Give me a couple minutes then, and you come runnin’ out an’ tell like you jus’ found her.
「好。那給我兩三分鐘，然後你跑出來說，裝作你剛發現她。
I’m going now.”
我走了。」
George turned and went quickly out of the barn.
喬治轉身，很快地走出穀倉。
Old Candy watched him go.
老坎迪看著他離開。
He looked helplessly back at Curley’s wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words.
他無助地回頭看著柯利的老婆，他的悲傷和憤怒漸漸變成了話語。
“You God damn tramp,” he said viciously.
「你這該死的騷貨。」他惡狠狠地說。
“You done it, di’n’t you?
「是你幹的，對不對？
I s’pose you’re glad.
我想你很高興吧。
Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up.
大家都知道你會把事情搞砸。
You wasn’t no good.
你本來就不是好東西。
You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.”
你現在也不是好東西，你這下賤的騷貨。」
He sniveled, and his voice shook.
他抽著鼻子，聲音發抖。
“I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys.”
「我本來可以在菜園裡鋤地，替他們洗碗的。」
He paused, and then went on in a singsong.
他停了一下，然後像唱歌似地唸下去。
And he repeated the old words: “If they was a circus or a baseball game . . . we would of went to her . . . jus’ said ‘ta hell with work,’ an’ went to her.
他重複那些老話：「要是有馬戲團或棒球賽……我們就會去……只要說一聲『去他的上工』，就去了。
Never ast nobody’s say so.
不用問任何人准不准。
An’ they’d of been a pig and chickens . . . an’ in the winter . . . the little fat stove . . . an’ the rain comin’ . . . an’ us jus’ settin’ there.”
還會有一頭豬、幾隻雞……到了冬天……那座胖胖的小爐子……雨落下來……我們就坐在那裡。」
His eyes blinded with tears and he turned and went weakly out of the barn, and he rubbed his bristly whiskers with his wrist stump.
淚水糊住了他的眼睛，他轉身虛弱地走出穀倉，一邊用手腕的斷處搓著扎手的鬍渣。
Outside the noise of the game stopped.
外面比賽的聲音停了。
There was a rise of voices in question, a drum of running feet and the men burst into the barn.
一陣此起彼落的詢問聲，一陣奔跑的腳步聲，男人們衝進了穀倉。
Slim and Carlson and young Whit and Curley, and Crooks keeping back out of attention range.
斯林姆、卡爾森、年輕的惠特和柯利，克魯克斯則待在後面，不引人注意。
Candy came after them, and last of all came George.
坎迪跟在他們後面，最後才是喬治。
George had put on his blue denim coat and buttoned it, and his black hat was pulled down low over his eyes.
喬治穿上了他的藍色丹寧外套，扣好扣子，黑帽子拉得低低的，蓋住眼睛。
The men raced around the last stall.
男人們衝過最後一個馬欄。
Their eyes found Curley’s wife in the gloom, they stopped and stood still and looked.
他們的眼睛在昏暗中找到柯利的老婆，他們停下來，一動不動地站著看。
Then Slim went quietly over to her, and he felt her wrist.
然後斯林姆靜靜地走到她身邊，摸了摸她的手腕。
One lean finger touched her cheek, and then his hand went under her slightly twisted neck and his fingers explored her neck.
一根瘦長的手指碰了碰她的臉頰，然後他的手伸到她微微扭曲的脖子底下，手指摸索著她的頸子。
When he stood up the men crowded near and the spell was broken.
他站起來時，男人們擠上前去，那股定住眾人的魔咒破了。
Curley came suddenly to life.
柯利突然活了過來。
“I know who done it,” he cried.
「我知道是誰幹的。」他大喊。
“That big son-of-a-bitch done it.
「是那個大狗娘養的幹的。
I know he done it.
我知道是他。
Why—ever’body else was out there playin’ horseshoes.”
嘿——其他人都在外面玩馬蹄鐵。」
He worked himself into a fury.
他把自己激得暴怒。
“I’m gonna get him.
「我要抓到他。
I’m going for my shotgun.
我去拿我的獵槍。
I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself.
我要親手殺了那個大狗娘養的。
I’ll shoot ’im in the guts.
我要打爛他的肚子。
Come on, you guys.”
走啊，你們。」
He ran furiously out of the barn.
他怒氣沖沖地跑出穀倉。
Carlson said, “I’ll get my Luger,” and he ran out too.
卡爾森說：「我去拿我的魯格。」也跑了出去。
Slim turned quietly to George.
斯林姆靜靜地轉向喬治。
“I guess Lennie done it, all right,” he said.
「我想是雷尼幹的，沒錯。」他說。
“Her neck’s bust.
「她的脖子斷了。
Lennie coulda did that.”
雷尼辦得到。」
George didn’t answer, but he nodded slowly.
喬治沒有回答，只是慢慢點頭。
His hat was so far down on his forehead that his eyes were covered.
他的帽子壓得很低，蓋住了眼睛。
Slim went on, “Maybe like that time in Weed you was tellin’ about.”
斯林姆接著說：「也許就像你說的威德那次。」
Again George nodded.
喬治又點點頭。
Slim sighed.
斯林姆嘆了口氣。
“Well, I guess we got to get him.
「好吧，我想我們得去抓他。
Where you think he might of went?”
你覺得他可能去哪了？」
It seemed to take George some time to free his words.
喬治好像花了一些時間才把話擠出來。
“He—would of went south,” he said.
「他——會往南走。」他說。
“We come from north so he would of went south.”
「我們從北邊來，所以他會往南走。」
“I guess we gotta get ’im,” Slim repeated.
「我想我們得去抓他。」斯林姆重複。
George stepped close.
喬治走近。
“Couldn’ we maybe bring him in an’ they’ll lock him up?
「我們不能把他帶回來，讓他們把他關起來嗎？
He’s nuts, Slim.
他腦子有問題，斯林姆。
He never done this to be mean.”
他不是故意要這樣的。」
Slim nodded.
斯林姆點點頭。
“We might,” he said.
「也許可以。」他說。
“If we could keep Curley in, we might.
「要是我們能攔住柯利，也許可以。
But Curley’s gonna want to shoot ’im.
可是柯利會想斃了他。
Curley’s still mad about his hand.
柯利還在為他的手生氣。
An’ s’pose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage.
而且，假如他們把他關起來，用皮帶綁住，關進籠子裡。
That ain’t no good, George.”
那也不好，喬治。」
“I know,” said George.
「我知道。」喬治說。
“I know.”
「我知道。」
Carlson came running in.
卡爾森跑了進來。
“The bastard’s stole my Luger,” he shouted.
「那王八蛋偷了我的魯格！」他大吼。
“It ain’t in my bag.”
「不在我的袋子裡。」
Curley followed him, and Curley carried a shotgun in his good hand.
柯利跟在他後面，用他那隻好手拿著一把獵槍。
Curley was cold now.
柯利現在冷靜下來了。
“All right, you guys,” he said.
「好，你們聽著。」他說。
“The nigger’s got a shotgun.
「那黑鬼有一把獵槍。
You take it, Carlson.
你去拿，卡爾森。
When you see ’um, don’t give ’im no chance.
看到他的時候，別給他任何機會。
Shoot for his guts.
往他肚子打。
That’ll double ’im over.”
這樣他就會彎下腰倒地。」
Whit said excitedly, “I ain’t got a gun.”
惠特興奮地說：「我沒有槍。」
Curley said, “You go in Soledad and get a cop.
柯利說：「你去索萊達找個警察。
Get Al Wilts, he’s deputy sheriff.
找艾爾．威爾茲，他是副警長。
Le’s go now.”
現在就走。」
He turned suspiciously on George.
他懷疑地轉向喬治。
“You’re comin’ with us, fella.”
「你跟我們一起來，老兄。」
“Yeah,” said George.
「好。」喬治說。
“I’ll come.
「我去。
But listen, Curley.
可是聽著，柯利。
The poor bastard’s nuts.
那可憐的傢伙腦子有問題。
Don’t shoot ’im.
別開槍打他。
He di’n’t know what he was doin’.”
他不知道自己在做什麼。」
“Don’t shoot ’im?” Curley cried.
「別開槍打他？」柯利大喊。
“He got Carlson’s Luger.
「他拿了卡爾森的魯格。
’Course we’ll shoot ’im.”
我們當然要開槍。」
George said weakly, “Maybe Carlson lost his gun.”
喬治虛弱地說：「也許是卡爾森把槍弄丟了。」
“I seen it this morning,” said Carlson.
「我今天早上還看到。」卡爾森說。
“No, it’s been took.”
「不，是被拿走了。」
Slim stood looking down at Curley’s wife.
斯林姆站著低頭看柯利的老婆。
He said, “Curley—maybe you better stay here with your wife.”
他說：「柯利——也許你最好留在這裡陪你老婆。」
Curley’s face reddened.
柯利的臉漲紅了。
“I’m goin’,” he said.
「我要去。」他說。
“I’m gonna shoot the guts outa that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand.
「我要親手打爛那個大王八蛋的肚子，就算我只剩一隻手。
I’m gonna get ’im.”
我要抓到他。」
Slim turned to Candy.
斯林姆轉向坎迪。
“You stay here with her then, Candy.
「那你留在這裡陪她，坎迪。
The rest of us better get goin’.”
我們其他人最好出發了。」
They moved away.
他們走了。
George stopped a moment beside Candy and they both looked down at the dead girl until Curley called, “You George!
喬治在坎迪身邊停了一下，兩人一起低頭看著死去的女孩，直到柯利大喊：「喂，喬治！
You stick with us so we don’t think you had nothin’ to do with this.”
你跟緊我們，免得我們以為你也跟這件事有關。」
George moved slowly after them, and his feet dragged heavily.
喬治慢慢地跟在他們後面，腳步沉重地拖著。
And when they were gone, Candy squatted down in the hay and watched the face of Curley’s wife.
等他們都走了，坎迪蹲在乾草上，看著柯利老婆的臉。
“Poor bastard,” he said softly.
「可憐的傢伙。」他輕聲說。
The sound of the men grew fainter.
男人們的聲音漸漸遠去。
The barn was darkening gradually and, in their stalls, the horses shifted their feet and rattled the halter chains.
穀倉慢慢暗了下來，馬匹在馬欄裡挪動著腳，把韁繩鐵鏈弄得嘩啦響。
Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm.
老坎迪躺在乾草上，用手臂遮住了眼睛。
📚 字詞與句法（15）
1sulkilyKK [ˈsʌlkɪlɪ]（adv.）悶悶不樂地、賭氣地
- 詞義：原文
“Then—it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily. - 例句：The boy sulkily put away his toys. ／ 小男孩賭氣地把玩具收起來。
- 詞源 × 實用度：sulk（生悶氣）。日常常用。
- 同義詞常用度：sullenly 50%、moodily 40%、sulkily 40%（第 3／4 名）、grumpily 45%。
- 詞性變化：v./n. sulk；adj. sulky；adv. sulkily。
2viciouslyKK [ˈvɪʃəslɪ]（adv.）惡毒地、兇狠地
- 詞義：原文
“You God damn tramp,” he said viciously. - 例句：The dog barked viciously at strangers. ／ 那隻狗對陌生人兇狠地吠叫。
- 詞源 × 實用度：vice（惡習）→ vicious。vicious circle（惡性循環）很常用。
- 同義詞常用度：savagely 45%、fiercely 60%、viciously 50%（第 2／4 名）、ferociously 35%。
- 詞性變化：adj. vicious；adv. viciously。
3snivelKK [ˈsnɪvl̩]（v.）抽鼻子、哭哭啼啼
- 詞義：原文
He sniveled, and his voice shook. - 例句：Stop sniveling and tell me what happened. ／ 別哭哭啼啼了，告訴我發生什麼事。
- 詞源 × 實用度：古英文 snyflan（流鼻涕）。帶輕微貶義。
- 同義詞常用度：sob 70%、whimper 55%、snivel 30%（第 3／4 名）、blubber 25%。
- 詞性變化：snivel / sniveled / sniveled / sniveling。
4singsongKK [ˈsɪŋˌsɔŋ]（n./adj.）單調反覆的吟誦腔
- 詞義：像唱歌一樣、平板重複的語調。原文
went on in a singsong。 - 例句：The children recited the poem in a singsong voice. ／ 孩子們用唱誦的腔調背詩。
- 詞源 × 實用度：sing 的重疊造詞。
- 同義詞常用度：chant 55%、lilt 30%、singsong 40%（第 2／3 名）。
- 詞性變化：n./adj. singsong。
5spellKK [spɛl]（n.）魔咒；一陣子
- 詞義：原文
the men crowded near and the spell was broken.——所有人被定住的那一刻被打破了。 - 例句：We had a spell of warm weather last week. ／ 上週有一段溫暖的日子。
- 詞源 × 實用度：古英文 spel（話語、故事）。break the spell（打破魔咒）很常用。
- 同義詞常用度：（多義詞，不列）
- 詞性變化：n. spell；adj. spellbound。
6furyKK [ˈfjʊrɪ]（n.）暴怒
- 詞義：原文
He worked himself into a fury.——work oneself into＝把自己激到某種狀態。 - 例句：She was in a fury when she found out. ／ 她發現的時候氣炸了。
- 詞源 × 實用度：拉丁文 furia，羅馬神話的復仇女神 Furies。
- 同義詞常用度：rage 80%、anger 90%、fury 60%（第 3／4 名）、wrath 30%。
- 詞性變化：n. fury；adj. furious；adv. furiously。
7double someone over（phr. v.）使（某人）痛得彎下腰
- 詞義：原文
Shoot for his guts. That’ll double ’im over. - 例句：The punch to the stomach doubled him over. ／ 那一拳打在肚子上，他痛得彎下腰。
- 詞源 × 實用度：身體對折。double over with laughter（笑彎了腰）也常用。
- 同義詞常用度：（片語，無直接同義詞）
- 詞性變化：double / doubled / doubled / doubling over。
8deputy sheriffKK [ˈdɛpjətɪ ˈʃɛrɪf]（n.）副警長
- 詞義：郡警長（sheriff）底下的執法人員。原文
Get Al Wilts, he’s deputy sheriff. - 例句：The deputy sheriff arrived within minutes. ／ 副警長幾分鐘內就到了。
- 詞源 × 實用度：sheriff 來自古英文 shire-reeve（郡的官員）。美國鄉間的主要執法者。
- 同義詞常用度：（專門職稱）
- 詞性變化：n. deputy sheriff(s)。
9be in on something（idiom）參與（某事、某個祕密）
- 詞義：原文
The guys might think I was in on it. - 例句：Was she in on the surprise? ／ 她知道這個驚喜嗎？
- 詞源 × 實用度：今天非常常用。
- 同義詞常用度：be involved 85%、be part of 70%、be in on 55%（第 3／4 名）、be privy to 25%。
- 詞性變化：be / was in on。
10make like（口語）假裝
- 詞義：原文
I’ll come along and make like I never seen her. - 例句：He made like he didn't hear me. ／ 他裝作沒聽到我說話。
- 詞源 × 實用度：美式口語，今天仍聽得到。
- 同義詞常用度：pretend 95%、act like 75%、make like 30%（第 3／3 名）。
- 詞性變化：make / made like。
11poolroomKK [ˈpulˌrum]（n.）撞球間
- 詞義：原文
Or I’ll set in some poolroom till ever’body goes home. - 例句：（今天多說 pool hall）
- 詞源 × 實用度：pool（撞球）。1930 年代的撞球間是男人消磨時間、賭博的地方。
- 同義詞常用度：pool hall 75%、billiards room 40%、poolroom 30%（第 3／3 名）。
- 詞性變化：n. poolroom(s)。
12idear / knowed / usta/ knew /（方言拼寫）＝ idea used to
- 詞義：
Ain’t you got any idear?、I think I knowed from the very first.、He usta like to hear about it。 - 例句：（方言）
- 詞源 × 實用度：idear 是在母音結尾加 r 的「侵入性 r」（intrusive r），美國東北與部分鄉下口音的特徵。
- 同義詞常用度：（拼寫變體）
- 詞性變化：know / knew / known。
13"He knew."（句法）最短的段落
- 特徵：一個獨立的短句自成一段。
- 原文例：
Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew. - 效果：兩個字，整個夢想就死了。短句的力量來自前面那一長串「對吧，喬治？對吧？」的懇求。
- 仿寫：She called his name three times. Then she stopped calling.
14夢想的最後一次重複（結構）
- 特徵：同一段台詞在全書出現多次，每次語境不同。
- 原文例：第一章喬治對雷尼講 → 第三章喬治、坎迪、雷尼一起相信 → 本節坎迪對著屍體，用「唱誦」的方式講：
the little fat stove . . . an’ the rain comin’ . . . an’ us jus’ settin’ there. - 效果：同樣的字，從期待變成哀悼。讀者已經能背出這段話，所以每一個字都痛。
- 仿寫：婚禮上新人唸的誓詞，在喪禮上被另一半輕聲重複。
15帽簷與眼睛（修辭）
- 特徵：用遮住眼睛的動作代替寫情緒。
- 原文例：
his black hat was pulled down low over his eyes.His hat was so far down on his forehead that his eyes were covered.結尾坎迪covered his eyes with his arm. - 效果：兩個男人都不讓別人看到自己的眼睛——在那個不准男人哭的世界，這就是哭。
- 仿寫：At the funeral he kept his sunglasses on, even indoors.